Re-election only solution to political turmoil, Imran tells Siraj

ISLAMABAD - As part of the reconciliatory efforts between ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Tehkreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) chief Sirajul Haq Wednesday met with Imran Khan but could not get positive response from the latter, The Nation has learnt.Sirajul Haq along with other party leaders called on Imran here at Bani Gala to discuss the issue of PTI's Azadi March.Siraj's meeting was a bid to diffuse tension between the government and PTI, a PTI leader said, adding that Imran made it clear to the former that re-election was the only solution to this ongoing political turmoil in the country. However, JI chief after the meeting dropped a hint about his party's participation in the long march of August 14.Naeemul Haq, a senior leader and spokesman of PTI, said Imran made it clear to the JI chief that the present political set-up should resign and an interim set-up should be put in place. Imran also told Siraj that after the announcement of interim set-up, new elections should be held under the new electoral laws. Naeemul Haq said that Imran also invited the JI chief for his party's participation in Azadi March. "We are waiting for you in the march," Naeem said quoting his party chief. He said that Siraj had agreed in principal to their demands.Siraj, speaking to the media persons after his meeting with Imran, said that his party had yet to decide whether or not to participate in PTI's long march on August 14; however, Imran in the meeting has again extended his invitation to JI to participate in it. "We have yet to make a final decision in this regard," he said, adding that his party would take this decision after its Gaza March in Islamabad on August 10. The JI chief said that his party endorsed the stance of Imran and also wanted transparent elections and it was against the rigging of May 11 general elections. The JI wants that future election should be held in such a way that no one could object to its transparency. He said that elections were rigged in Karachi and FATA.Sirajul Haq said that the government should listen to Imran's demands and find out a possible solution. "We have heard the demands of Khan and we have some suggestions to diffuse the situation." He said the prime minister should take the initiative to resolve these problems amicably.JI vice chief Mian Aslam, who was also part of the meeting, said that his party's meetings on Wednesday with Imran Khan, Khurshid Shah, Mahmood Khan Achakzai and Prime Minister Sharif were part of JI's efforts to diffuse present political tension prevailing in the country.

This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 07-Aug-2014 here.